European Union

Statement

International Labour Conference

113^th session

Geneva, 2-13 June 2025

________

Committee on Application of Standards

Libya

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)

(ratification: 1961)

________

Geneva, 5 June 2025

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International Labour Conference

113th Session

Geneva, June 2025

Committee on the Application of Standards

Libya

Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)

Thank you, Chair. 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.

1. The EU and its Member States are committed to the promotion, protection, respect and fulfilment of human rights, including labour rights and the abolition of forced and compulsory labour. We support the ILO’s supervisory system in its crucial role of promoting and supervising the application of ratified standards.

2. We note with regret the observations of the Committee of Experts concerning the lack of information provided by the Government of Libya, particularly in relation to measures taken to protect migrant workers from forced labour, prevent trafficking in persons, and ensure accountability.

3. We remain deeply concerned by the Committee’s findings regarding the continued perpetration of trafficking, arbitrary detention, forced labour and sexual exploitation of migrants and refugees, with near total impunity for the perpetrators. We are also gravely concerned by the climate of impunity for rape and other sexual violence against migrant women and girls. We support the Committee’s calls for urgent and systematic action to end these widespread human rights violations, to provide immediate protection and assistance to victims, and to adopt and implement the draft law on combating trafficking in persons.

4. We also note with particular concern the documented complicity of state officials, local authorities and institutions, including the former Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration and the Libyan Coast Guard, in the perpetration of these abuses or in collusion with traffickers and armed groups. We urge the Government to ensure thorough and independent investigations, to prosecute those responsible, and to impose sufficiently dissuasive sanctions in line with the obligations under Convention No. 29.

5. We recall the importance of ensuring that all victims have access to protection, assistance, and effective remedies, including voluntary repatriation and reintegration where appropriate.

6. With regard to the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105), we note with concern the observations of the Committee of Experts concerning the use of imprisonment involving compulsory labour as a penalty for expressing political views or opinions. We urge the Government to take the necessary legislative steps to repeal or amend the relevant provisions of the Publications Act, the Penal Code and the Anti-Cybercrime Law to bring them into full conformity with Convention No. 105.

7. While acknowledging the complex political, institutional and security context in Libya, we recall that such circumstances do not absolve the Government from its obligations under international labour standards, nor justify the ongoing grave and widespread human rights violations reported. Reforms and progress, as well as transparency and accountability, are expected from the Government, particularly with regard to the creation of the General Administration for Combating Illegal Migration as successor organisation of the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration.

8. The EU and its Member States encourage the Government of Libya to intensify its cooperation with the ILO and to engage meaningfully with social partners and the international community.

9. We will continue to follow the situation closely and remain ready to support efforts aimed at ensuring compliance with international labour standards and upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals.

Thank you, Chair.
 

*North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.